Fruit-picker



(No Model.)

A. 0 HEDDBN.

FRUIT PIGKER.

No. 498,715. Patented May 30,1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON O. HEDDEN,'OF ITI-IAOA, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,715, dated May 30, 1893. Application filed November 9, 1892- Serial No. 451,456. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AARON O. HEDDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Fruit- Picker, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit pickers or gatherers; and it has for its object to provide certain improvements in devices for gathering fruit which shall render the same more easily handled and manipulated, while at the same time insuring efficiency and simplicity both in point of construction and operation.

With these and other objects in view which fall within the scope of this invention, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit picker or gatherer constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the movable jaw frame, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the stationary angular jaw frame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings A represents a pole orstafi": of sufficient length so as to adaptthe same for thrusting the gathering devices into trees for culling each fruit separately. At the upper end of the pole A, is secured the stationary wire jaw frame B. The stationary jaw-frame B, is made of stiff wire bent inwardly at its center to form the opposite bearing shoulders O, and terminating at its lower ends in a securing stem D, which is inserted in the extreme upper end of the pole, so as to hold said frame in position. The stationary jaw frame B, is bent in an approximately semi-circular shape above the shouldersO, to form the jaw portion E, on either side of which works the two semicircular members F, F, of .the angular movable jaw frame G. As described, the angular jaw frame G, comprises the duplicate semicircular frame members F, F disposed at right angles to each other and terminating at their angles in the eyes, f, which encircle the shoulders O, of the stationary jaw frame so that the movable jaw frame is freely movable on both sides of the stationary jaw. One of the semi-circular members F, of the movable jaw-frame, is provided with an off-standing securing eye H, to which is secured one end of the retractile coil spring I, the other end of which is secured to the top of the pole A, sothat the tension thereof normally holds the movable semi-circular jaw-member at approximately right angles to the stationarv jaw-frame so as to leave a mouth or entrance for the fruit to be gathered. The othersemi circular frame member F, while the member F, is in this position, rests flat against the stationary jaw E, and forms a stop to limit the opening of the movable jaw F, and also provides .means whereby the said jaw member may be closed onto the stationary jaw to pick the fruit, as will now be described. A flexible tube or spout J, has its upper open end passed between the two jaw frames, and the upper edges thereof sewed or otherwise suit-ably secured to the stationary and movable semi-circular jaws E and F respectively, so that the gathered fruit is allowed a free passage through the tube or spout to a basket or other suitable receptacle for the fruit. A separate attaching tape or strip K, is secured to the outside of the tube or spout near its upper end, and is connected centrally to a depending portion or loop of the frame member F, so as to providemeans for closing the movable jaw onto the stationary jaw. N ow it will be readily seen that normally the two jaws of the picker are separated by means of the spring I, so that the fruit can be introduced between the two jaws. By grasping the tube or spout with one hand and pulling on the same, the angular jaw-frame is turned or oscillatedto close the movable jaw thereof onto the stationary jaw, to break or separate the fruit from the tree and allow the same to fall into the receiving receptacle. By this construction it will be seen that all operating rods and wires for the jaws are dispensed with, thereby rendering the gatherer capable of easy manipulation.

It is to be understood that changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A 1. In a fruit picker, the combination with the pole; of a stationary wire jaw frame secured to the upper end of said pole, an angular movable jaw frame mounted on said stationary jaw frame and having duplicate members working on both sides of the stationary frame, a spring connected to one of said members and the pole, and a flexible tube or spout attached at its upper end to the stationary and movable jaws and connected to the other member-of the movable jaw frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fruit picker, the combination of a stationary wire jaw frame, a movable jaw frame mounted on the stationary frame and working on both sides thereof, a spring connected at one end to one side or portion of the movable jaw frame to normally hold the same open, the flexible tube or spout attached at its upper end to the stationary jaw frame and to one side or portion of the movable jaw frame, and an attaching tape or strip secured to said tube or spout near its upper end and to the other side or portion of said movable jaw frame, said tube or spout being adapted to be pulled for closing the open side of the movable jaw frame onto the stationary frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fruit picker the combination with the pole; of a stationary jaw frame having a semi-circular jaw portion and opposite bearing shoulders, an angular movable jaw frame comprising duplicate semi-circular members terminating at their angles in eyes working over said bearing shoulders, one of said members forming the movable jaw and the other member forming a stop for the frame when opening, a spring connected to the movable jaw member and the pole, and a flexible tube or spout attached at its upper end to the stationary and movable jaws and connected to the stop member of the angular frame to provide for closing the movable jaw onto the stationary jaw by means of said tube or spout, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AARON O. HEDDEN.

\Vitnesses:

R. WOLF, E. O. WOLF. 

